Three wolf pups killed by train

Another three wolf pups have been hit and killed by a train on the tracks in Banff National Park.

It happened early Monday morning, dealing yet another blow to the troubled Bow Valley wolf pack.

Around 2:20 a.m. Monday, three pups were struck by a CP Rail train around mile 87.5, which is located in the stretch that runs along the Bow Valley Parkway west of Banff.

Wildlife officials from Banff National Park were unvailable to speak to the matter until Tuesday.

Officials with CP Rail didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

It’s the latest in a series of losses for the Bow Valley wolf pack, which lost another wolf pup a couple of weeks ago.

The four deaths come after the mother of the wolf pups was shot and killed by Parks Canada after she became aggressive because she had developed a taste for human food and garbage.

Another one of the pack members was darted and fitted with a monitoring collar a few days later, meaning three of the remaining four grown wolves in the pack — including the father or alpha male — can be closely watched.

It’s believed there are still two pups left in the pack, based on a photograph that surfaced last week with five pups in it.

Last month, officials said there’s a 40 to 60 per cent mortality rate for wolf pups.

The pack is still being monitored by Parks Canada as they work to keep the rest of the wolves safe and healthy.